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CANTALOUPE 
CULTURE 

A  Treatise   ou    Cantaloupe  Growing,    under 
Irrigation  in  Colorado  by 
PHILO  K.  BLINN,  B.  S. 
Rocky    Ford,  Colorado 


Copyrighted    191O 
BY 


The  Rocky  Ford  Cantaloupe  Seed 
Breeders'  Association 

Rocky  Ford,  Colorado 


Cantaloupe  Culture 


A  Treatise  on  Cantaloupe  Growing,  Under 
Irrigation  in  Colorado 


BY 

PHILO   K.   BLINN,   B.  S. 
Rocky  Ford,  Colo. 


NOTE. —  Copious  extracts  have  been  taken  from  Colorado  Experiment  Station 
Bulletins  Nos.  95,  104  and  126,  by  the  same  author,  in  the  preparation  of  this  treatise; 
also  a  number  of  halftones  from  the  same  bulletins  have  been  used  by  permission. 


FIRST:,EDIT-ION 

' 


Copyright,  1910,  by 

The  Rocky  Ford  Cantaloupe  Seed  Breeders'  Association 
Rocky  Ford,  Colo. 


COLO  AG  EXfiSTA. 


Plate   I — Cantaloupes  at  right  grown  after  alfalfa.     At  left  on   worn   out   soil. 
Plate  II— Root  System  of  Cantaloupe  Seedlings. 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURED  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE   SEED. 


Cantaloupe  Culture 


By  PHILO  K.  BL1NN,  B.  S. 


INTRODUCTION 

.  The  Cantaloupe  has  long  been  a  favorite  in  the  home  garden,  when 
conditions  are  favorable  to  its  growth,  and  in  recent  years  the  growing 
of  this  fruit  for  market  has  assumed  the  proportions  of  a  great  industry 
in  certain  favored  localities  of  the  country;  in  districts  like  Rocky  Ford, 
for  instance,  which  annually  ships  from  ten  to  twelve  hundred  cars  of 
the  fruit,  and  seed  sufficient  to  plant  a  hundred  thousand  acres,  are 
grown  and  marketed  every  year,  and  in  the  aggregate  a  very  large  area 
is  being  devoted  to  this  crop  throughout  the  United  States. 

The  cantaloupe  seems  to  thrive  in  rather  a  wide  range  of  soil  and 
climatic  conditions,  being  grown  to  some  extent  in  almost  all  of  the 
states,  although  from  the  standpoint  of  money  returns,  the  area  of 
very  successful  cantaloupe  culture  is  somewhat  limited,  yet  it  appears 
that  it  is  more  the  question  of  cultural  care,  disease  and  insect  pests, 
or  favorable  marketing  facilities  which  determine  the  success  of  the 
industry  in  a  given  locality,  rather  than  the  specific  soil  or  climatic 
conditions. 

Many  people  who  attempt  to  grow  cantaloupes  secure  indifferent 
results,  because  they  do  not  realize  the  needs  of  the  crop,  nor  seem  to 
appreciate  the  fact  that  judgment  and  skill  are  required  to  meet  the 
conditions.  The  questions  of  seed,  soil,  planting,  cultivating,  moisture, 
combating  pests,  picking  and  harvesting  are  all  pertinent  factors  in  suc- 
cessful cantaloupe  growing. 

One  of  the  most  important  points  connected  with  the  industry  is 
in  maturing  the  crop  early,  for  here  as  elsewhere,  "the  early  bird 
catches  the  worm,"  the  high  prices  received  for  the  first  cantaloupes  in 
a  district,  offers  a  great  reward  to  the  grower  who  is  able  to  mature  his 
crop  a  few  days  in  advance  of  his  neighbors.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  the 
vicinity  of  Rocky  Ford  for  an  extra  early  field  to  net  a  return  of  from 
two  to  three  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  and  it  is  in  anticipation  of  such 
results  that  the  grower  plants  his  seed;  but  as  the  season  advances  it 
soon  becomes  evident  that  the  many  vicissitudes  which  constantly  beset 
the  crop,  has  caused  many  to  fall  behind  in  the  race,  and  it  is  only  a  few 
who  by  chance  or  good  judgment  are  able  to  secure  the  early  crates. 

Many  factors  that  influence  the  development  of  the  crop  are  beyond 
the  control  of  the  grower,  but  there  are  many  elements  that  are  within 
his  power,  and  of  these  we  wish  to  speak,  not  with  a  view  to  giving 
specific  rules  which  would  insure  a  crop  of  cantaloupes,  for  the  varying 
conditions  on  different  farms  and  different  seasons  would  preclude  that, 
but  we  hope  to  present  the  information  that  has  grown  out  of  observa- 
tion and  experience,  which  will  reveal  the  facts  and  principles  that  can 
be  applied  where  conditions  will  fit,  and  which  may  lead  some  growers 
to  greater  success  in  growing  cantaloupes. 


228395 


CANTALOUPE     CULTURE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE     SEED. 

CLIMATE 

Climatic  conditions  within  certain  limits  are  essential  to  success- 
ful cantaloupe  culture,  and  the  consideration  of  this  topic  may  answer 
many  questions  as  to  the  adaptability  of  some  sections  for  melon  grow- 
ing. First,  there  should  be  a  long,  hot  summer,  with  about  five  months 
free  from  killing  frosts,  with  a  daily  maximum  temperature  between  80 
and  95  degrees  during  June,  July  and  August,  with  a  night  temperature 
seldom  falling  below  60  degrees;  four  months  may  mature  good  canta- 
loupes, but  with  so  short  a  season,  frost  would  probably  cut  short  the 
profits  of  the  crop,  unless,  as  is  done  in  some  of  the  northern  states 
having  too  short  season,  the  plants  are  started  under  frames  in  sods  or 
paperbands;  Second,  there  should  be  plenty  of  bright  sunshine,  without 
excessive  rainfalls;  this  will  secure  good  quality  and  lessen  the  liability 
to  the  attacks  of  fungus  troubles,  that  are  so  often  fatal  to  the  melon 
crop  in  rainy  sections  or  regions  of  heavy  dews;  without  doubt  the  clear 
bright  sunshine  and  the  arid  conditions  of  Southeastern  Colorado,  ac- 
counts for  the  high  flavor  and  the  fine  qualities  found  in  the  Rocky  Ford 
cantaloupes  as  is  evidenced  in  the  poor  quality  in  the  cantaloupes  with 
an  abnormal  rain  fall,  which  sometimes  occurs. 

Sunlight  is  very  essential  to  the  full  development  of  cantaloupes, 
for  the  quality  is  perceptibly  inferior  in  shaded  spots;  the  dry  at- 
mospheric conditions  cause  rapid  transpiration  of  the  moisture,  from 
the  leaves,  thus  inducing  a  quick  movement  of  sap  or  plant  juices  which 
increases  the  power  to  carry  and  deposit  plant  foods,  thus  developing 
and  concentrating  the  spice  of  flavor  and  producing  the  very  highest 
qualities. 

It  is  conceded  by  all  experienced  cantaloupe  growers,  that  the  canta- 
loupe thrives  best  in  a  warm,  sandy  loam;  clay  loam  and  other  types 
of  soil  may  produce  a  good  crop  if  the  tilth  and  fertility  are  good,  but 
heavy  soils  are  apt  to  be  cold  and  backward,  causing  lateness  in  matur- 
ing, and  it  is  also  generally  .believed,  that  the  nature  of  some  types  of 
soils  seriously  influences  the  form,  size  and  other  qualities  of  the  canta- 
loupe. It  is  true,  however,  that  the  average  size  will  vary  in  different 
seasons;  in  seasons  of  very  favorable  growth  the  cantaloupes  will  run 
to  a  large  proportion  of  "jumbo  melons"  (larger  than  standard)  in 
seasons  less  favorable,  there  will  be  more  small  or  pony  sizes.  An  actual 
test  of  a  crop  on  a  piece  of  land,  is  the  best  proof  of  the  fitness  of  the 
soil  for  that  crop;  for  while  a  chemical  analysis  may  theoretically  seem 
favorable,  in  practice  it  may  prove  otherwise. 

There  are  many  factors  that  may  influence  the  results;  but  in  general 
the  land  that  will  grow  other  vine  crops,  such  as  cucumbers,  pumpkins 
and  squash,  will  probably  grow  good  cantaloupes. 

Soil  for  cantaloupes  should  have  good  drainage,  both  surface  and 
subsoil,  and  in  irrigated  regions  the  land  must  have  a  uniform  slope 
or  grade  so  that  the  water  will  run  even,  without  soaking  or  flooding 
the  hills;  if  there  is  one  point  above  another  in  cantaloupe  culture  that 
needs  special  emphasis,  it  is  the  caution  against  oversoaking  or  flooding 
of  the  surface  of  the  field;  this  will  be  further  discussed  under  the 


CANTALOUPE      CULTURE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE      SEED. 


Plate   No.   3 — Leveling  Land,   and   Fining  the   Soil. 

topic  "Irrigation,"  but  the  point  must  be  held  in  mind  in  many  of  the 
operations,  and  in  selecting  the  field,  to  have  it  will  drained  on  the 
surface  as  well  as  the  subsoil. 

If  no  detrimental  soil  conditions,  like  seepage  or  alkali,  exists,  the 
question  of  fertility  is  usually  the  most  important  one  in  relation  to 
the  soil;  barnyard  manure  is  an  old  standby,  and  cantaloupes  of  all 
crops  will  respond  as  well  to  well-rotted-compost  better  than  any  form 
of  commercial  fertilizer,  but  experience  of  the  most  convincing  sort  has 
shown  that  soil  cannot  be  made  to  produce  good  cantaloupes  indefinitely, 
year  after  year,  by  applying  manure  and  artificial  fertilizers. 

Aside  from  fertility  there  are  also  the  questions  of  plant  diseases, 
soil  bacteria,  and  unbalanced  food  supply.  Crop-rotation  has  proven  to 
be  the  most  practical  and  adequate  means  of  preserving  not  only  the 
proper  fertility,  but  the  nearest  approach  to  securing  uninfested  soil 
conditions,  hence,  crop  rotation  becomes  an  important  phase  of  cantaloupe 
culture. 

Alfalfa,  to  the  western  ranches  occupies  the  same  place  that  clover 
does  to  the  eastern  farmer,  or  the  cow  pea  to  the  southern  planter; 
these  crops  for  their  respective  sections,  provide  ideal  soil  fertility  and 
tilth  for  the  cantaloupe.  In  Colorado  alfalfa  sod  is  the  ideal  soil  prepara- 
tion for  cantaloupes,  and  a  comparison  of  the  results  on  alfalfa  sod 
with  even  well  manured  old  land  will  convince  the  most  skeptical.  Plate 
No.  I.  Experience  has  demonstrated  that  early  matured  cantaloupes  can 
hardly  be  expected  on  soil  following  a  heavy  fertility  consuming  crop, 
like  sugar  beets  or  corn,  a  good  late  crop  being  the  usual  result.  Nearly 


CANTALOUPE     CULTURE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE      SEED. 

all  the  fine  records  of  early  yields  and   high   prices  have   been   made   on 
soil  that  was  in  a  perfect  state  of  tilth  and  fertility. 

Soil  can  be  made  too  rich  in  applying  manures,  and  the  principal 
point  in  the  application  of  fertilizers  is  to  have  a  reasonable  amount,  and 
well  incorporated  in  the  soil,  and  in  the  case  of  barnyard  manure,  to  have 
it  well  rotted.  In  Colorado,  manuring  in  the  hill,  has  been  found  to  have 
no  advantage  over  the  broadcast  method,  owing  probably  to  the  wide 
spreading  root  system  of  the  plant;  commercial  fertilizers  have  not  been 
profitably  used  in  Colorado. 


PREPARING  LAND  FOR  CANTALOUPES 

The  secret  of  getting  soil  in  that  ashy,  mellow  condition  so  desirable 
for  cantaloupes,  is  one  largely  of  experience,  for  handling  soil  in  the 
same  manner  on  different  farms  will  seldom  get  the  same  results;  one 
may  be  a  clay,  the  other  a  sandy  loam.  The  texture  and  the  previous 
cropping  has  much  to  do  with  the  way  soil  can  be  handled.  In  general, 
there  must  be  moisture  in  the  soil  during  the  winter  to  secure  the  mellow- 
ing effect  of  the  frost,  and  the  soil  must  not  be  handled  too  wet.  If  clay 
or  adobe  "packs,"  it  will  dry  hard  and  lumpy;  real  sandy  soil  can  be 
handled  wet  with  less  risks  than  other  soils.  The  soil  should  be  friable 
so  that  the  harrow  will  pulverize  it  without  clogging  as  it  does  in  mud, 
and  yet  not  so  dry  as  to  leave  the  field  full  of  clods. 

Before  plowing,  the  soil  should  be  well  disked  for  two  reasons. 
First,  to  thoroughly  mix  the  soil  with  any  fertilizer  previously  applied 
and  second,  to  pulverize  the  soil  on  the  surface,  so  that  after  the  work 
of  preparation  is  complete,  the  bottom  of  the  furrow  will  be  as  finely 
prepared  as  the  top.  Plowing  for  cantaloupes  is  usually  made  to  the 
depth  of  five  or  six  inches;  in  the  arid  region  the  plowed  land  must  be 
closely  harrowed  behind  the  plow,  to  prevent  too  rapid  drying  of  the 
surface,  and  should  be  closed  up  by  fineing  the  soil  on  top;  this  is  usually 
accomplished  with  the  steel  harrow  with  the  teeth  turned  nearly  flat,  or 
with  a  float  or  land  leveler,  a  fine  dust  mulch  will  check  evaporation,  and 
thus  conserve  the  soil  moisture,  to  enable  a  more  thorough  harrowing 
to  complete  the  preparation.  Preparing  the  land  some  time  before  planting 
is  advisable  as  the  soil  becomes  settled,  and  the  seed  will  germinate  more 
readily  and  a  more  uniform  stand  will  be  secured.  The  soil  should  also 
be  harrowed  after  cold  spring  rains,  to  check  evaporation,  which  will  tend 
to  aid  in  warming  up  the  soil.  Before  laying  out  the  rows  to  plant,  while 
the  surface  of  the  soil  is  dry,  the  field  should  be  carefully  leveled  with 
a  land  leveler;  See  Plate  No.  3;  removing  all  the  high  points  and  filling 
the  hollows  and  deadfurrows,  so  that  in  irrigating  the  water  will  run 
uniformly  without  flooding  the  rows,  or  over  soaking  any  of  the  hills. 

About  planting  time,  the  field  is  laid  off  with  a  marker  in  rows  five 
to  six  feet  apart,  in  the  opposite  direction  to  the  rows  to  be  planted,  which 
are  laid  off  with  the  irrigation  furrows,  in  the  best  direction  for  water 
to  run,  the  irrigation  rows  are  usually  made  about  the  same  distance 
apart,  usually  six  feet,  these  furrows  can  be  made  with  a  single  shovel 
plow  or  a  two  row  marker  or  furrower,  shown  in  Plate  No.  4.  In  the 
non-irrigated  regions  these  furrows  could  serve  for  surface  drainage  after 
heavy  rains. 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE  SEED. 


Plate   No.   4 — Marking  Out   Cantaloupe   Rows,   with   Two-row    Marker. 


SEED  TO  PLANT 

The  question  of  seed,  its  variety,  and  the  selection  and  breeding  be- 
hind it  is  of  utmost  importance  in  growing  a  crop  of  cantaloupes  for  mar- 
ket; being  as  essential  to  success  as  is  the  selection  of  the  variety  of  fruit 
trees  to  be  set  in  a  commercial  orchard;  the  markets  have  certain  de- 
mands for  certain  kinds  of  fruit,  and  the  grower  must  meet  that  demand. 
A  market  may  become  educated  to  take  a  new  fruit  of  merit,  but  it  will 
not  be  forced  to  take  what  may  be  the  misfortune  of  the  grower  to  pro- 
duce. There  are  local  demands  for  several  varieties  of  muskmelons  and 
cantaloupes,  but  the  development  of  cantaloupe  growing,  as  an  industry, 
has  been  since  the  introduction  of  the  Netted  Gem  type  of  melon;  its 
small,  uniform  size  adapting  it  for  packing  in  crates  for  long  shipments, 
while  its  fine  flavor,  its  quality  and  attractive  appearance  have  been  other 
points  in  its  favor.  Unquestionably  it  is  one  of  the  best  varieties  grown, 
but  doubtless  there  is  confusion  in  the  minds  of  many  who  see  the  long 
lists  of  varieties  published  in  some  of  the  seed  catalogues,  of  different 
strains,  but  which  in  reality  is  but  one  type  of  cantaloupe.  Each  seed 
firm,  commission  house  or  grower  having  named  and  renamed  their  par- 
ticular strain  until  the  original  identity  has  been  lost;  but  regardless  of 
what  might  be  said,  or  has  been  said,  along  this  line,  there  are  really  but 
few  strains  of  the  Rocky  Ford  Netted  Gem  type  that  deserves  the  distinction 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE   SEED. 

of  a  different  variety  name.  By  this,  one  should  not  infer,  that  it  makes 
little  difference  what  strain  is  planted.  In  the  breeding  of  livestock,  an 
animal  may  be  a  Shorthorn  or  a  Jersey,  yet  be  absolutely  worthless  to 
head  a  herd;  it  is  the  question  of  the  individual  merit  of  the  animal,  and 
so  with  the  cantaloupe;  there  must  be  a  system  of  seed  selection  which 
recognizes  the  individual  plan  as  the  unit  of  selection,  to  give  value  to  the 
seed,  and  not  merely  a  name  applied  to  attract  the  buyer. 

Cantaloupe  seed  cannot  be  judged  by  its  appearance,  for  fine  looking 
seed  can  be  saved  from  worthless  stock,  nor  is  the  price  paid  for  the  seed 
a  sufficient  test  of  its  value,  for  great  quantities  of  seed  are  bought  from 
cull  piles  and  unmarketable  cantaloupes  at  an  insignificant  price  at  first, 
but  after  passing  through  the  hands  of  several  seed  jobbers,  it  gradually 
assumes  a  price  that  would  seem  to  warrant  it  being  good  seed,  by  the 
grower  who  does  not  suspect  its  true  character  until  a  seasons'  labor  may 
have  been  lost. 

The  seed  jobber  can  seldom  reach  the  standard  advertised  until  the 
seed  breeder  and  the  seed  grower  stands  back  of  him.  Contract  seed, 
mis-labeled  seed,  substituted  orders,  renamed  varieties  and  extravagant 
claims  have  shaken  the  confidence  of  many  growers;  a  competent  seed 
breeder  should  be  able  to  guarantee  the  seed  he  produces  as  to  variety, 
purity  and  general  qualities,  and  the  seed  firm  that  deserves  the  confi- 
dence of  growers  must  deal  in  reliable  seed  all  the  time. 

There  has  been  a  great  awakening  on  the  subject  of  improved  seed 
selection  for  all  crops  and  the  cantaloupe  grower  who  does  not  keep  pace 
with  the  advance  of  knowledge  in  this  line,  must  expect  to  fall  short  in 
his  profits.  Seed  breeding  means  more  than  the  selection  of  seed  from 
an  average  crop,  that  would  tend  only  to  produce  average  results. 

The  same  laws  that  govern  the  breeding  of  animals  also  control  the 
improvement  of  plants.  Any  fair  minded  man  will  acknowledge  that 
thoroughbred  animals  are  more  profitable  than  scrubs,  or  even  average 
stock,  and  the  same  is  true  of  pedigreed  plants.  But  we  must  get  the 
true  conception  of  seed  selection, — not  the  idea  of  the  uninformed  farmer 
who,  with  his  wife  spent  their  evenings  for  many  days,  selecting  seed 
corn  from  a  lot  of  shelled  corn  that  he  had  purchased  for  feed.  And  the 
man,  who  selects  his  cantaloupe  seed  at  the  packing  shed  is  almost  as  far 
wrong,  for  the  plant  that  produced  the  seed  has  not  been  considered. 

Scientific  plant  breeding  and  seed  selection  are  based  on  two  funda- 
mental factors  that  cause  variations  in  plants, — Environment  and  Heredity. 
The  ever  changing  conditions  of  soil  and  climate,  and  cultural  care  will 
effect  the  qualities  of  plants,  and  the  different  combinations  of  these  in- 
fluences may  produce  from  the  same  seed,  under  different  conditions  very 
contrasting  results, — it  may  be  ideal,  or  undesirable;  for  this  reason  a 
crop  producing  fine  specimens  under  favorable  conditions  does  not  prove 
conclusively  that  the  crop  should  be  saved  for  seed,  for  the  weak  heredity 
that  may  be  present,  under  more  adverse  conditions,  might  disclose  the 
serious  defects.  Hereditary  tendencies  cannot  be  determined  before  hand 
by  the  appearance  of  the  seed,  nor  from  the  perfect  specimens  from  which 
it  may  have  been  saved. 

8 


CANTALOUPE     CULTURE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE     SEED. 


Plate  No.  5— Planting  Cantaloupes  with  a  Hand  Planter. 


Heredity  is  a  subtle,  unseen  force,  difficult  to  understand,  and  which 
can  only  be  determined  by  the  performance  record  of  the  seed  tested 
under  a  wide  range  of  conditions,  or  better  still  by  selecting  a  number 
of  fine  specimens  and  saving  the  seed  of  each  separately,  and  then  grow- 
ing all  under  uniform  conditions  of  soil,  climate  and  cultural  care;  this 
will  largely  nullify  the  effects  of  environment,  and  the  variations  thus 
disclosed,  may  be  reasonably  ascribed  to  heredity  and  the  selections  made 
accordingly. 

Experience  has  shown  that  certain  plants,  like  some  individual 
animals  possess  strong  hereditary  power  to  reproduce  uniformly,  a  de- 
sirable trait  or  character,  while  other  individual  plants  have  poor  repro- 
ducing traits,  and  for  seed  purposes  are  really  worthless. 

Seed  breeding  is  practical;  it  is  not  a  theory  or  a  fancy,  but  a  rea- 
sonable, result-producing  process.  The  most  successful  farmers  are  giv- 
ing it  careful  consideration,  nor  does  the  improvement  of  seed  add  a  bur- 
den of  labor  and  expense;  but  comes  as  an  added  asset  to  the  growers 
wealth,  and  increases  his  pride  in  his  crop. 

Comparatively  few  men  are  capable  of  producing  their  seed  for  if 
they  are  growing  cantaloupes  for  market,  their  time  and  attention  must 
be  occupied  with  the  crop,  and  to  select,  cut  and  cure  high  grade  canta- 
loupe seed  requires  no  little  training  and  experience,  and  some  little 
equipment. 

9 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE  SEED. 

The  grower  who  buys  his  seed  should  deal  directly  with  a  reliable 
breeder  who  is  qualified,  and  is  making  a  specialty  of  growing  the  crop 
for  seed;  a  grower  should  not  submit  his  seed  order  for  "lowest  bid"  if 
he  expects  good  seed.  He  must  be  willing  to  pay  as  much,  at  least,  for 
the  seed  as  the  cantaloupes  from  which  it  was  saved,  would  bring  had 
they  been  marketed,  in  Colorado  that  would  mean  from  one  to  two  dollars 
per  pound,  as  it  requires  at  least  a  standard  crate  to  save  a  pound  of 
select  seed. 

The  seed  from  the  arid  region  in  high  altitudes  has  proven  to  be 
superior  to  seed  grown  in  the  humid  sections,  both  for  vigor  and  early 
maturity.  The  big  cantaloupe  growers  from  California  and  the  Southern 
states  realize  this,  for  they  look  to  Rocky  Ford  each  year  for  their  can- 
taloupe seed,  and  all  testify  that  they  get  earlier  and  more  uniform  canta- 
loupes from  the  Rocky  Ford  grown  seed. 


PLANTING  AND  SECURING  A  STAND 

The  first  requisite  in  planting  cantaloupes,  is  to  have  the  weather 
warm,  for  warmth  and  moisture  are  the  two  essentials  in  seed  germina- 
tion. Many  growers  make  the  mistake  of  planting  while  the  ground 
is  yet  cold,  with  freezing  temperature  occurring  every  few  nights.  If  per- 
chance the  days  are  warm  enough  to  germinate  the  seed,  the  plants  are 
stunted  and  make  a  slow  tantalizing  growth,  should  they  be  so  fortunate 
as  to  escape  these  late  frosts  of  spring. 

As  a  general  rule,  a  few  days  before  the  latest  freeze  may  be  ex- 
pected, is  as  early  as  it  is  safe  to  plant.  At  Rocky  Ford,  May  1st,  marks 
the  usual  date  of  the  latest  frost,  but  even  then  there  are  risks  to  run, 
as  killing  frosts  have  occurred  as  late  as  the  tenth  of  May,  or  even  later. 
It  is  common  for  cantaloupes  planted  as  early  as  the  tenth  of  May  to 
begin  to  ripen  as  soon  as  the  earlier  planted  seed,  so  as  a  rule  it  is  not  to 
much  advantage  to  plant  very  early;  the  grower,  must  be  the  judge  in 
regard  to  his  soil  and  climate. 

There  are  two  systems  of  planting  cantaloupes, — the  drill-row  and  in 
hills.  In  the  hill  system,  the  field  is  check-rowed  like  corn,  to  permit  cul- 
tivating in  each  direction,  the  rows  usually  being  laid  off  five  to  six  feet 
apart,  and  the  hills  about  the  same  distance  in  the  rows.  By  dropping  eight 
to  ten  seed  to  the  hill,  it  will  require  about  a  pound  of  seed  to  plant  an 
acre.  It  is  advisable  to  plant  plenty  of  seed  in  order  to  secure  a  good 
stand,  allowing  for  the  attacks  of  the  cutworms  and  other  destruc- 
tive agencies. 

There  are  two  methods  of  planting  cantaloupes  in  hills, — with  a  hoe, 
and  with  a  hand  planter,  commonly  called  a  "snapper"  shown  in  Plate 
No.  5.  The  rotary  type  of  this  form  of  planter  is  usually  the  most  satis- 
factory, but  some  modifications  are  usually  necessary  to  fit  it  for  dropping 
cantaloupe  seed. 

10 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE  SEED. 


Plate  No.  6 — Planting  Cantaloupes  with  Garden  Drill. 


By  filling  the  holes  one  of  the  regular  corn  dropping  plates  with 
lead,  then  by  boreing  out  with  a  three-eights  drill  bit  and  by  testing  and 
enlarging  the  holes  it  can  be  regulated  to  drop  quite  well;  the  seed  box 
will  also  need  close  fitting,  to  prevent  the  thin  flat  seed  from  leaking  out. 
A  block  or  stop  should  be  attached  to  the  blades  at  about  the  depth  to 
plant,  about  one  and  a  half  inches,  this  will  insure  uniform  depth,  which 
is  essential.  Great  care  should  be  exercised  to  have  the  depression  or 
hole  formed  in  the  soil  by  the  thrust  of  the  planter,  filled  or  leveled  with 
the  foot;  otherwise  the  seed  will  dry  out,  field  mice  will  more  readily  find 
the  hills,  and  a  hard  dash  of  rain  will  form  a  hard  chunk,  or  crust  right 
over  the  seed.  The  surface  of  the  soil  should  be  dry  to  insure  good  work 
with  the  planter.  A  man  with  some  experience  can  plant  from  three  to 
five  acres  per  day  with  a  planter,  while  one  acre  per  day  is  about  all  that 
can  be  accomplished  with  a  hoe. 

The  principal  argument  for  the  hill  system  of  growing  cantaloupes,  is 
the  economy  in  labor,  for  more  of  the  weeding  and  hoeing  can  be  done 
with  a  horse. 

In  the  drill  system  the  rows  are  usually  put  about  the  same  distance 
apart,  but  the  seed  are  sown  in  drill  rows,  the  seed  being  dropped  every 
two  or  three  inches;  this  method  requires  about  two  to  three  pounds  of 
seed  per  acre.  The  seed  is  sown  either  with  a  hand  drill,  shown  in  Plate 

11 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE   SEED. 

No.  6,  the  horse  planter  or  the  sugar  beet  drill  is  used  in  the  Rocky  Ford 
district.  The  important  point  is  to  get  the  seed  dropped  uniformly,  and 
the  drill  set  to  plant  at  a  uniform  depth, — not  over  one  and  a  half  inches; 
as  soon  as  the  plants  are  nicely  up  they  should  be  thinned  to  single  plants, 
far  enough  apart  to  permit  hoeing  between.  After  the  danger  from  insect 
injuries  is  over,  and  about  the  time  the  first  blossoms  appear,  the  plants 
should  be  thinned  again  to  one  plant  every  two  feet,  on  the  average;  the 
tendency  at  this  point  is  to  leave  the  plants  too  thick,  especially  if  the 
plants  are  extra  fine.  The  most  advanced  plants  are  selected,  which  is 
the  cause  of  the  drilled  fields  usually  maturing  earlier  than  the  hill  planted, 
and  the  earlier  development  usually  compensates  for  the  extra  cost  of  the 
increased  amount  of  seed,  and  the  added  labor  of  thinning. 

The  essential  points  in  planting  are  to  get  the  seed  planted  at  a 
uniform  depth,  and  at  a  uniform  distance  from  the  irrigation  furrow; 
to  have  the  soil  fine  and  firmed  just  right,  to  skillfully  conserve  and  apply 
moisture,  and  to  keep  a  crust  from  interfering  with  the  young  seedlings. 

In  the  arid  regions  the  seed  is  usually  planted  about  one-half  inch 
deeper  than  it  is  expected  the  plants  will  come  through,  in  order  to  hold 
the  moisture  line  to  the  seed.  When  the  seed  is  well  sprouted  the  hills 
are  raked  off  with  a  garden  rake,  removing  the  crust  and  any  clods  that 
might  interfere.  Sometimes  the  field  is  harrowed  across  the  rows  with 
good  results,  especially  where  the  rows  are  drilled  in.  This  matter  of 
"raking  off"  and  keeping  the  surface  fine  over  the  hills  is  a  very  import- 
ant point  to  be  observed  in  securing  a  good  stand. 


IRRIGATION 

The  moisture  problem  in  cantaloupe  growing  is  a  very  important 
one.  Some  times  in  the  humid  sections,  there  is  too  much  water,  and  it 
becomes  the  question  of  how  to  save  the  crop,  but  little  can  be  said  here, 
except  to  select  well  drained  fields  for  the  cantaloupes  and  provide  the 
field  with  furrows,  like  the  irrigation  furrow,  to  carry  off  the  excess  rain 
water,  and  to  plant  on  somewhat  raised  hills  or  ridges. 

In  the  arid  sections  the  moisture  for  the  crop  as  a  rule  depends  on 
the  irrigation  furrow,  and  the  skill  of  the  grower  to  so  manipulate  the  soil 
and  water.  Too  many  look  upon  irrigation  as  a  simple  process  of  run- 
ning water  through  the  rows,  or  over  the  ground,  paying  little  or  no  at- 
tention to  the  needs  or  demands,  or  the  dangers  of  flooding  or  oversoaking 
the  land.  When  soil  is  completely  saturated  with  water,  the  air  is  prac- 
tically all  driven  out  and  the  soil  settles,  which  defeats  the  very  object 
and  purpose  of  plowing  and  the  other  work  of  soil  preparation,  which  will 
dry  hard  and  nothing  but  frost  can  ever  mellow  it  as  before. 

12 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE  SEED. 


Plate  No.  7— Irrigating  to  Germinate  Seed,  Without  Flooding. 


The  application  of  water  to  all  such  crops  as  cantaloupes  should  be 
by  sub-irrigation,  that  is,  the  moisture  should  soak  through  the  soil  to 
the  plant  or  seed,  from  the  irrigation  furrow,  without  the  surface  of  the 
soil,  except  in  the  furrows  coming  in  contact  with  the  water;  this  is  essen- 
tial, not  only  for  the  needs  of  the  plants,  but  also  the  same  amount  of 
water  will  serve  a  longer  time,  the  needs  of  the  plants,  the  water  rights 
in  some  ditches  makes  it  necessary  to  conserve  the  moisture  as  long  as 
possible. 

In  order  to  supply  the  moisture  uniformly  to  the  seed  along  the  row, 
the  seed  must  have  been  planted  at  a  uniform  distance  from  the  water  line, 
about  four  to  six  inches,  to  insure  uniformity  in  the  soaking  of  the  rows, 
the  rows  should  be  "logged"  out,  or  smoothed  out  with  a  short  piece  of 
log  about  the  size  of  the  furrow;  this  will  cause  the  water  to  run  through 
quickly,  and  by  regulating  the  amount  in  each  row,  the  rows  will  become 
uniformly  wet  without  flooding  or  soaking  the  ground.  Plate  No.  7 
shows  a  field  being  properly  irrigated,  to  germinate  the  seed.  When  the 
water  can  be  gotten  through  the  rows  quickly  and  the  amount  regulated 
to  supply  the  row  about  as  fast  as  it  soaks  in  the  soil,  the  upper  and 
lower  parts  of  the  row  will  become  wet  at  about  the  same  time  and  amount, 
with  practically  little  water  wasted. 

The  idea  is  to  soak  the  rows  until  the  water  has  fully  reached  the 
seed,  while  the  surface  over  the  hill  remains  nearly  dry;  this  is  ideal  con- 

13 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE   SEED. 

ditions  for  germination  and  is  sufficient  for  the  needs  of  the  plants  in  all 
the  early  irrigations.  Later  the  rows  can  be  soaked  till  moisture  shows 
on  surface  back  to  the  plants  as  in  Plate  No.  8. 

Under  Colorado  conditions,  one  irrigation  after  planting,  and  one 
again  about  the  time  the  plants  are  coming  up,  is  ordinarily  all  that 
is  required  until  after  the  first  cultivation,  after  that  irrigation  and 
cultivation  alternate  each  other  every  week  or  ten  days,  the  exact  number 
of  times  depending  on  the  weather  and  soil  conditions. 

The  amount  of  irrigation  necessary  to  secure  the  best  results  in 
cantaloupe  culture,  is  subject  to  so  many  varying  factors,  that  it  is 
impossible  to  lay  down  an  exact  rule.  In  the  first  place,  the  cantaloupe 
does  not  thrive  in  a  wet  soil,  as  evidenced  by  the  injury  and  poor  quality 
of  the  crop  in  seasons  of  excessive  rain.  The  needs  of  the  crop  in  the 
first  stages  are  very  small,  and  as  light  watering  as  possible  to  secure 
the  needed  moisture,  is  best;  then  as  the  plant  developes  the  amount  of 
irrigation  should  be  increased,  light,  frequent  irrigations,  rather  than 
heavy  soakings  at  long  intervals  has  proven  to  be  the  best  plan. 

When  the  vines  are  nearly  grown  and  set  full  of  developing  fruit 
a  heavier  irrigation  is  then  needed  by  the  plant,  but  as  soon  as  the  fruit 
have  reached  their  growth,  light  waterings  should  again  be  the  rule;  to 
insure  the  best  quality,  little  if  any  irrigation  should  be  applied  during 
the  picking  season,  just  enough  to  prevent  severe  wilting;  it  is  at  this 
time  that  the  cantaloupe  "rust"  fungus  makes  its  appearance,  and 
moisture  and  dews  are  favorable  to  its  development. 

The  dryer  the  season,  the  better  the  quality  in  cantaloupes,  is 
an  axiom  that  should  induce  more  careful  irrigation  among  cantaloupe 
growers  in  the  irrigated  sections. 

The  relation  of  irrigation  to  early  setting  of  cantaloupes  is  a  some- 
what mooted  question;  there  are  growers  who  argue  the  use  of  frequent 
irrigations  during  the  setting  period  in  order  to  secure  a  good  set,  but 
others  prefer  to  keep  their  vines  dry,  even  allowing  them  to  show  the 
need  of  moisture  before  they  will  permit  irrigation  during  this  stage. 

It  is  evident  that  the  season  and  climatic  conditions  have  more 
to  do  with  the  setting  of  fruit  than  the  watering;  there  are  experiences 
that  might  seem  to  support  both  theories;  yet  continued  observations 
would  indicate  that  a  grower  is  not  warranted  in  following  either  course 
to  the  extreme,  but  rather  the  medium  plan  of  providing  just  enough 
moisture  to  secure  an  even,  healthy  growth  all  the  way  through,  would 
seem  to  be  most  favorable  condition. 

An  excess  of  water  in  hot  weather  is  apt  to  induce  a  heavy  growth 
of  vine  at  the  expense  of  early  "sets"  due  to  the  rank  growth,  and  such 
succulent  growth  is  also  much  more  liable  to  succumb  to  the  attack  of 
diseases  and  insect  pests. 


CULTIVATION  AND  CARE 

If   there   is   a   secret   in    getting    early    cantaloupes,    it   is    in    growing 
them  from  start  to  finish  in  such  a  way  that  the  growth  is  not  checked 

14 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE  SEED. 


Plate  No.  8— Letting  the  Water  Soak  More  as  the  Plants  Grow. 


at  any  time.  The  cantaloupe  does  not  seem  to  have  the  power  to  rally 
from  a  check  in  growth  or  an  injury  of  any  kind;  the  set  back,  not  only 
hinders  the  production  of  early  fruits,  but  seriously  affects  the  size 
and  yield  of  the  cantaloupes.  There  are  numerous  instances  where  un- 
favorable conditions  of  some  kind,  have  checked  the  growth,  in  some 
part  of  a  field  that  was  planted  and  otherwise  handled  the  same;  invari- 
ably that  portion  of  the  field  will  show  marked  difference  in  size,  netting 
or  other  qualities.  The  best  promise  of  a  good  crop  is  a  prompt  and 
steady  growth  from  germination  to  maturity. 

The  seedling  period  is  the  critical  time  in  the  development  of  a 
crop  of  cantaloupes,  for  it  is  at  this  stage  that  the  check  in  growth 
usually  occurs,  from  cold  weather,  high  winds,  lack  of  moisture  or  the 
attacks  of  insects. 

A  knowledge  of  the  manner  of  growth  of  the  root  system  and  de- 
velopment of  the  seedling,  will  in  a  measure  explain  the  reasons  for 
the  steps  taken  and  the  precautions  that  are  necessary  at  this  time  in 
handling  the  crop  through  this  important  period. 

Plate  No.  2,  represents  two  cantaloupe  seedlings,  the  one  on  the 
right  revealing  the  plan  of  the  root  system  that  first  develops  when  the 
seed  germinates;  it  penetrates  almost  directly  down  from  the  seed  while 
the  stem  or  radical  is  pushing  its  way  to  the  surface.  These  little  roots 
seem  to  form  a  temporary  support  for  the  plant  during  the  first  two  or 
three  weeks,  for  up  to  this  time  the  stem  from  the  seed  point  to  the 
top  of  the  ground  is  smooth  and  white,  with  no  evidence  of  the  lateral 

15 


CANTALOUPE     CULTURE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE     SEED. 

roots  which  are  shown  on  the  stem  of  the  seedling  to  the  left  in  the 
picture. 

The  second  root  system  develops  from  the  stem  about  the  time 
the  fifth  leaf  appears,  or  four  to  five  weeks  after  germination;  these 
roots  seem  to  form  the  main  feeders  of  the  plant,  for  the  growth  of 
the  plant  is  almost  insignificant  until  it  feels  the  impulse  of  this  larger 
and  better  root  system.  The  question  of  good  early  growth  and  ma- 
turity almost  hinges  on  the  success  of  the  farmer  in  supplying  the 
conditions  that  will  favor  the  early  and  proper  development  of  this 
lateral,  or  main  root  system.  It  seems  evident  that  the  depth  of  plant- 
ing and  the  manner  of  managing  the  soil  in  the  hill  has  an  important 
relation  to  the  early  development  of  these  lateral  roots.  Experience 
teaches  that  seed  planted  much  over  two  inches  in  depth  are  slow  and 
difficult  to  germinate,  being  weakened  by  the  long  stem  that  is  necessary 
to  reach  the  surface,  and  on  the  other  hand,  if  planting  is  too  shallow, 
the  seeds  are  apt  to  dry  out,  or  if  rain  follows  a  crust  will  form,  which 
must  be  removed,  and  that  often  exposes  the  seeds  that  are  not  planted 
at  a  sufficient  depth,  with  fatal  results,  or  leaves  the  plant  with  too 
shallow  a  stem  support,  it  is  then  whipped  and  wrung  by  the  high, 
drying  winds  or  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  the  cucumber  beetle. 

Seed  will  germinate  readily  when  weather  conditions  are  favorable, 
if  planted  at  about  the  depth  indicated  by  the  white  portion  of  the 
stem  of  the  seedling  on  the  left  in  Plate  No.  2. 

When  the  seed  leaves  are  nearly  to  the  surface,  the  hills  should 
be  raked  off,  removing  any  crust  or  dry  lumps  which  may  obstruct  the 
little  melon  plant.  Plenty  of  seed  should  be  used  to  provide  against  a 
loss  in  handling  the  hills,  or  from  the  attacks  of  insects.  It  also  affords 
a  chance  to  select  the  thriftiest  individual  plants  when  the  thinning 
is  done.  Owing  to  the  injuries  from  the  striped  cucumber  beetle,  the 
thinning  should  be  delayed  until  the  plants  have  about  the  fifth  leaf, 
when  the  beetle  will  not  do  much  more  injury,  the  extra  plants  in  the 
hill  should  be  destroyed  by  pinching  or  cutting  off  the  stems,  as  pulling 
them  out  may  disturb  the  plants  to  be  left. 


HOEING 

Hoeing  the  hills  is  of  great  importance,  but  it  should  be  done  with 
skill  both  as  to  the  time  and  in  the  manner  it  is  done,  for  careless  hoeing 
is  a  common  error;  if  the  seed  has  been  properly  planted  in  mellow 
soil  and  the  irrigation  properly  applied,  there  is  no  reason  for  deep 
hoeing  in  and  close  to  the  hill,  as  it  only  disturbs  the  plant  and  dries  out 
the  soil;  weeds  can  be  destroyed  by  rather  shallow  hoeing. 

The  dry,  cloddy  soil  on  the  surface  of  the  hill,  should  be  removed 
and  replaced  with  fine  mellow  soil  drawn  up  from  away  from  the  hill, 
hilling  up  the  plants  as  much  as  possible;  even  to  almost  covering  the 
two  seed  leaves,  this  will  protect  the  plants  from  wind,  and  insects 
to  a  large  measure;  but  the  most  important  feature  of  this  process  is 
the  holding  of  the  moisture  well  upon  the  stems,  affording  the  best  con- 
dition for  a  long  base  for  the  development  of  the  roots,  as  well  as  supplying 
the  plant  with  moisture.  If  on  the  other  hand,  the  soil  in  the  hill  is 
loosened  up  with  the  hoe  and  not  hilled  up  by  drawing  the  loosened  soil 
to  the  plant  with  the  hoe,  the  hill  will  usually  dry  out,  and  only  a  short 
portion  of  the  stem  be  in  moist  soil  to  induce  root  development. 

16 


PLATE  J. 


Plate  No.  9—  Showing  Development  of  Cantaloupes.   Photo  Taken  July  2. 
Plate  No.  10—  Same  Field  Two  Weeks  Later. 


17 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE  SEED. 

CULTIVATION 

A  thorough  preparation  of  the  soil  before  it  is  planted  to  canta- 
loupes will  very  much  lessen  the  necessity  for  so  much  cultivation  after- 
wards, but  a  good  deal  depends  on  frequent  and  thorough  tillage  during 
the  early  stages  of  the  growth  of  cantaloupes,  at  first  it  should  be  deep 
and  thorough,  but  not  close  enough  to  disturb  the  plants;  the  cultiva- 
tions should  be  more  shallow  and  further  from  the  hills  as  the  plants 
develop.  The  grower  who  cutlivates  deep  and  close  to  the  hill  because 
the  vines  do  not  prevent  this,  is  cutting  off  roots,  setting  back  his  crop 
more  than  he  is  doing  good.  He  should  understand  the  growth  of  the 
roots,  for  they  form  the  counterpart  of  the  vines  on  the  surface,  only 
they  ramify  the  soil  more  thoroughly  and  to  a  greater  distance  than  the 
length  of  the  vines,  so  it  is  easily  possible  to  damage  the  crop  by  care- 
less cultivation.  Plates  Nos.  9  and  10  gives  a  conception  of  the  root 
system  which  must  exist  to  produce  the  rapid  increase  of  growth  in  so 
short  a  time.  The  first  was  taken  July  2,  1904,  and  represents  the  growth 
of  about  eight  weeks,  the  next  was  taken  at  the  same  spot  just  two  weeks 
later,  examinations  in  the  soil  between  the  rows  will  reveal  the  tiny 
rootlet  very  thick,  four  to  five  inches  deep,  hence  surface  tillage  after 
the  vines  start  should  be  the  rule. 


TOOLS  USED  IN  CANTALOUPE  CULTURE 

The  fourteen-toothed  cultivator,  with  a  steel  weeding  knife  bolted 
across  between  the  two  back  teeth,  so  as  to  run  just  below  the  surface, 
an  inch  or  two,  has  become  the  most  popular  tool  for  cultivating  on  land 
clean  of  alfalfa  roots  or  trash.  This  gives  ideal  tillage,  and  practically 
kills  all  the  weeds  except  in  the  hills. 

On  alfalfa  sod  where  the  crowns  would  gather  on  the  knife  it  is 
not  so  pleasant  to  use  yet  it  will  do  very  satisfactory  work,  but  here 
the  five-toothed  cultivator  is  usually  used;  this  tool  is  also  used  to  furrow 
out  rows  by  closing  it  up  and  placing  a  large  shovel  on  the  rear  shank. 
When  the  cantaloupes  are  "laid  by"  (cultivated  and  furrowed  out  the 
last  time)  the  irrigating  furrows  are  made  somewhat  larger  than  before 
and  they  should  be  "logger  out"  so  that  water  can  make  its  way  through 
the  rows  after  the  vines  have  covered  the  ditches,  it  is  also  a  good  plan 
to  lay  the  vines  around  out  of  the  furrows  once,  to  train  them  as  much 
as  possible  away  from  the  furrows;  this  will  keep  many  of  the  cantaloupes 
out  of  the  ditch,  though  the  vines  will  eventually  nearly  cover  the  ground. 


INSECT  ENEMIES 

We  will  discuss  this  subject  from  the  grower's  standpoint  only 
simply  mentioning  the  methods  that  have  proven  to  be  the  most  successful 
under  Colorado  conditions.  Doubtless  in  other  states  there  are  other  pests 
and  other  conditions  to  influence  the  results. 

18 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE  SEED. 

No  sooner  has  the  seed  germinated,  than  the  struggle  for  existence 
begins;  an  effectual  precaution  is  to  plant  plenty  of  seed,  scattering  it 
well  in  the  hill,  and  even  replanting  before  it  is  evidently  necessary, — 
usually  some  replanting  is  required  anyway.  Crop  rotation  also,  is  often 
a  good  way  of  avoiding  infested  fields,  in  fact,  "prevention  is  better  than 
cure,"  in  fighting  insects  and  plant  diseases. 

The  destruction  of  insect-harbors,  such  as  weeds,  old  vines  and 
plants,  should  be  given  more  consideration,  and  the  cultivation  of  the 
fields  in  the  late  fall,  winter  and  early  spring,  will  destroy  many  eggs 
and  insects  that  pass  the  winter  in  the  soil, — grasshoppers  and  cutworms 
for  instance. 

The  little  striped  cucumber  beetle  is  doubtless  one  of  the  most  com- 
mon enemies  the  melon  growers  have  to  combat.  A  long  list  of  remedies 
have  been  suggested  and  tried,  but  the  best  method  is  to  keep  the  soil 
in  the  hill  as  fine  as  possible  even  to  putting  dust  on  the  hill  and  thus 
prevent  the  beetles  from  depositing  their  eggs  on  the  stems  as  the  plant 
pushes  itself  through  the  cracks  of  the  soil  that  would  otherwise  occur 
if  the  soil  in  the  hill  were  not  soft  and  fine;  dusting  the  hills  with  air 
slacked  lime,  through  a  common  gunny  sack,  or  spraying  with  the  bor- 
deaux mixture  as  soon  as  the  plants  appear  are  the  best  remedies.  To- 
bacco, ashes  or  any  dust  bath  are  good  repellants. 

The  cucumber  beetle  is  easily  frightened,  and  continual  cultivation 
will  often  do  much  to  keep  the  field  clear  until  the  plants  reach  a  stage 
where  the  beetles  will  not  do  much  injury. 

The  melon  aphis  is  doubtless  the  most  serious  pest  that  the  canta- 
loupe has  to  contend  against  in  many  places,  and  one  against  which 
resistance  is  least  effectual  where  conditions  are  favorable  to  the  aphis. 

Fortunately  for  the  growers  in  Colorado,  the  natural  enemies  of  the 
aphis  usually  hold  them  in  check  quite  effectually;  the  lady-beetle,  the 
Syrphus  flies  and  the  lace-winged  fly  are  the  principal  enemies  to  the 
aphis,  some  seasons  a  little  parasitic  fly  destroys  many  aphis. 

The  only  effective  measure  seems  to  be  a  careful  watch  of  the  fields 
to  destroy  the  first  plants  found  to  be  infested  with  aphis,  as  it  seems 
that  only  a  few  insects  are  able  to  pass  the  winter,  and  they  seem  to 
spread  from  a  few  isolated  points,  and  if  these  can  be  destroyed  by 
finding  them  and  burying  them,  early,  has  seemed  to  be  the  only  plan  to 
adopt,  as  spraying  and  fumigation  has  been  tried  by  the  most  competent 
experts  with  very  unsatisfactory  results. 

The  introduction  of  the  natural  enemies,  like  the  lady-beetles  has 
been  tried  in  California  with  some  promise,  but  this  plan  is  in  an  ex- 
perimental stage  as  yet.  The  necessity  of  supplying  the  enemy  as  soon 
as  the  aphis  appears,  makes  this  plan  rather  impractical  for  the  grower. 

Destroying  the  winter  harbor  or  host  plant  of  the  melon-aphis  would 
seem  to  be  the  best  measure  to  adopt  if  possible;  this  winter  harbor  has 
not  fully  been  determined  for  some  points. 

19 


CANTALOUPE     CULTURE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE     SEED. 


[ 
Permission  Colo.  Exp.  Sta. 

Plate  No.  11— Two  Plants  that  Grew  in  the  Same  Hill,   One  Killed  with  Rust, 
the  Other  Rust  Resisting. 


20 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE   SEED. 


,v^ 


I 


V 


Plate   No.    12—1.    A   Vine    Rusted    on    Check    Row.      2.    Adjacent    Vine    Showing 

Resistance  to  Rust. 

PLANT  DISEASES 

Crop  rotation,  seed  selection,  or  breeding  for  disease  resistance  offer 
the  best  means  of  controlling  plant  diseases;  the  spraying  of  the  crop 
with  the  Bordeaux  mixture  or  other  fungicides  is  about  the  only  other 
means  at  hand.  In  Colorado,  spraying  has  not  proven  as  successful  as 
is  reported  to  be  in  other  states,  doubtless  due  to  different  climatic  con- 
ditions. 

Careful  control  of  irrigation  seems  to  offer  one  means  of  lessening 
the  attacks  of  some  of  the  fungus  troubles  in  the  arid  sections. 


HARVESTING 

After  all  injuries  to  the  crop  have  been  explained  and  remedial 
measures  suggested,  there  still  remains  one  great  cause  of  poor  returns 
from  the  cantaloupe  crop,  viz. .careless  and  unscrupulous  methods  of  mar- 
keting. When  cantaloupes  are  scarce  and  sales  are  quick,  there  seems 
to  be  no  power  on  earth  that  will  stay  the  hand  of  the  average  grower 
as  he  pushes  his  crop  onto  the  market,  with  the  encouragement  of  advices 
from  his  progressive  (?)  commission  merchant;  together  they  have  pro- 
duced a  glutted  market  with  inferior  products,  instead  of  protecting  the 
markets  with  a  quality  that  would  increase  consumption,  they  simply  let 
it  fill  up  with  everything  and  anything,  and  neither  the  grower  or  the 
consumer  is  benefitted.  It  is  common  for  growers  to  admit  that  they 
are  shipping  cantaloupes  that  are  not  fit  to  be  eaten,  and  it  is  not  strange 
that  a  similar  complaint  comes  from  the  consumer. 


21 


CANTALOUPE     CULTURE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE     SEED. 


PICKING 

When  green  or  over-ripe  melons  are  allowed  to  go  onto  the  markets, 
the  trouble  usually  is  in  the  picking;  careless  or  mistaken  ideas  often 
prevailing.  There  is  a  very  narrow  limit  in  the  stage  of  ripeness  that 
a  cantaloupe  can  be  picked  and  have  it  in  the  right  condition  for  distant 
markets.  On  one  hand,  it  can  not  be  picked  so  green  as  a  tomato  or 
lemon,  and  still  ripen  during  shipment  to  fair  quality,  nor,  on  the  other 
hand,  can  it  be  allowed  to  show  any  distinct  color  of  ripeness,  like  an 
apple,  without  it  becoming  too  soft  on  long  shipments. 

It  should  be  ripe  enough  so  the  flesh  will  be  sweet  when  cut  open, 
yet  too  hard  to  be  eaten  for  a  day  or  two;  it  requires  skill  and  ex- 
perience to  determine  the  proper  stage. 

Jocularly,  it  has  been  said,  "The  cantaloupe  has  three  stages  in 
three  days, — green,  ripe  and  rotten."  This  expresses  the  fact  that  there 
is  a  very  short  period  for  marketing  the  crop  in  good  condition,  yet  if 
picked  at  the  proper  stage,  handled  right,  under  refrigeration  it  can  be 
shipped  to  distant  markets  in  quite  normal  condition. 

It  is  hard  to  describe  to  a  novice,  just  how  to  detect  the  right  stage 
to  pick  a  cantaloupe;  there  is  first,  a  very  slight  change  of  color  in 
the  interstices  of  the  netting,  hardly  enough,  however,  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  inexperienced;  second,  it  is  tried  with  a  pressure  of  the 
thumb  or  forefinger,  when  it  should  "slip,"  that  is,  separate  in  the  same 
manner  as  when  real  ripe,  but  requiring  some  little  force  but  not  enough 
to  break  the  stem  or  flesh  out,  conditions  of  the  vines,  and  climate  will 
at  times  vary  the  picker's  judgment  to  some  extent;  but  by  cutting  oc- 
casionally a  melon  the  point  can  be  decided.  It  is  very  essential  that 
pickers  be  carefully  instructed,  and  closely  watched,  for  the  good  returns 
should  not  be  expected  from  green,  or  overripe  cantaloupes. 


PACKING 

The  fruit  should  be  carefully  handled,  not  bruised,  or  roughly 
shaken  to  loosen  the  seed  cavity,  they  should  be  hurried  to  the  shade 
and  crated  as  soon  as  possible;  the  cantaloupes  should  be  carefully  graded 
before  crating,  not  only  as  to  size,  but  for  condition  of  ripeness;  for 
there  will  always  be  some  a  little  too  ripe  which  must  not  be  crated  with 
the  green-ripes,  or  the  markets  will  suffer.  In  grading,  the  ripe  melons 
can  often  be  marketed  in  local  or  nearby  markets,  and  the  ones  just  right 
reserved  for  the  long  distance  shipments. 

In  crating,  the  layers  must  be  uniform,  and  tight,  but  not  so 
crowded  as  to  crush  or  bruise  the  flesh,  yet  there  should  not  be  a  loose 
melon  in  the  crate  if  it  is  expected  to  carry  well. 

The  crate  has  been  the  standard  package  for  long  distance  hauls. 
The  standard  crate  of  forty-five  cantaloupes  has  been  most  popular,  but 
there  is  a  tendency  now  for  different  sized  crates,  so  that  a  better  grade 
of  packing  is  possible;  as  it  is  impossible  to  find  cantaloupes  that  will 
run  absolutely  uniform,  the  different  seasons  will  change  the  proportion 
of  standard  to  "jumbo"  or  "pony"  cantaloupes,  and  it  is  not  possible  to 
crate  the  different  sizes  and  make  a  uniform  pack. 

22 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE   SEED. 


Plate  No.  13— Type  of  Old  "Netted  Gem."— Colo.  Exp.  Sta. 

HISTORY  OF  SOME  OF  THE  STRAINS  OF 
ROCKY  FORD  CANTALOUPES 

The  Netted  Geni  variety  was  introduced  from  France,  about  1880, 
and  it  was  this  variety,  grown  at  Rocky  Ford,  Colorado,  that  at  once 
popularized  the  cantaloupe,  on  account  of  the  exceptional  fine  flavor  and 
marketing  qualities  of  this  cantaloupe  as  grown  under  Colorado  condi- 
tions. The  general  type  of  this  cantaloupe  is  shown  in  Plate  No.  13,  a 
closely  netted  type  with  clear  cut  sectors,  as  a  rule  small  in  size,  averag- 
ing about  one  and  a  quarter  pounds,  green  fleshed  shading  to  yellow  at 
the  seed  cavity,  of  a  very  sweet  spicy  flavor. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  industry,  the  growers  around  Rocky  Ford 
purchased  their  seed  from  eastern  seed  firms,  but  on  a  number  of  occa- 
sions badly  mixed  seed  was  the  result,  and  different  growers  began  to 
save  their  own  seed,  while  all  of  the  "Gem"  type  of  cantaloupe,  different 
growers  had  different  conceptions  of  the  ideal  type,  with  these  different 
ideas  of  selection,  and  possibly  some  cross  fertilization  from  the  mixed 
lots  of  seed,  there  developed  several  quite  distinct  strains  of  the  now 
popularly  known  variety  of  Rocky  Ford  Netted  Gem;  some  with  a  solid 
net,  that  is,  uniformly  netted  all  over,  without  the  clear  cut  sectors  and 
there  were  various  other  distinguishing  traits. 

About  1900  the  "melon  rust"  became  serious,  and  the  Colorado  Ex- 
periment Station,  instituted  several  experiments  in  spraying,  and  in  1904 
began  the  investigation  to  develop  a  disease  resistant  strain  of  the  Rocky 
Ford  variety.  A  comparative  test  of  the  different  strains  were  tried 
under  uniform  conditions,  and  it  was  found  that  one  strain  that  had 
been  developed  by  Mr.  J.  P.  Pollock  revealed  the  desired  trait  to  a  marked 
degree,  the  report  of  these  investigations  has  been  reported  in  the  Colorado 
Bulletin  No.  104. 

23 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE   SEED. 


THE  RUST-RESISTANT  POLLOCK 

An  interesting  history  of  this  strain  from  Mr.  Pollock,  who  had 
retired  from  cantaloupe  growing,  is  reprinted  from  the  above  named 
bulletin: 

1908   Colorado   Avenue,    Colorado   Springs,    Oct.    6th,    1905. 
Mr.  P.   K.   Blinn, 
Dear  Sir:—- 

Yours  at  hand;  I  note  what  you  say  regarding  the  Pollock  cantaloupe 
with  pleasure,  mainly  'because  if  you  are  correct  in  your  conclusions  as 
to  its  rust  resisting  qualities,  I  have  been  instrumental  in  doing  good  to 
the  community. 

Now  as  to  its  history;  I  began  growing  the  strain  nine  years  ago  in 
Holbrook,  my  first  experience  in  melon  culture  and  farming  in  Colorado. 

I  got  two  lots  of  seed  from  Ellingwood  and  Hauck,  one  at  50  cts.  per 
Ib.  and  the  other  at  $3.00  per  Ib. ;  the  50c  seed  grew  large  melons,  too 
large,  not  one  tenth  being  of  a  size  to  crate.  The  $3.00  seed  produced 
good  cantaloupes,  most  of  them  good  sized  and  very  heavy  netted,  not 
a  short  melon  but  correct  in  length;  I  saved  my  seed  selecting  the  proper 
size  and  netting, — you  may  draw  your  own  conclusions  as  to  whether 
there  Was  cross  fertilization  producing  the  origin  of  my  future  strain. 

The  next  year  I  planted  at  Rocky  Ford;  I  had  a  fine  growth  of  vines 
and  setting  of  cantaloupes,  I  distinctly  remember  the  heavy  growth  of 
vines.  It  was  my  first  experience  with  plenty  of  water,  and  I  over- 
watered  and  the  rust  struck  the  patch,  and  I  had  quite  a  failure;  the 
wrhole  patch  was  ruined  and  I  was  soon  counted  out  at  the  platform  on 
the  score  of  rusted  vines.  However,  I  selected  my  seed  from  the  patch, 
selecting  a  large  sized  melon  with  a  white  close  netting,  and  a  perfect 
cantaloupe  as  I  remember  it,  in  the  midst  of  the  rusted  vines;  I  never 
had  much  trouble  with  rust  after  that,  and  in  the  light  of  your  conclu- 
sions as  to  its  rust  resisting  tendencies,  I  now  believe,  I  unwittingly 
selected  a  rust  resisting  melon,  as  the  rest  of  my  crop  were  slick  melons 
that  failed  to  mature.  Thereafter  I  always  had  my  eye  on  that  same 
type  of  melon  in  selecting  my  seed;  it  was  a  full  large  sized  melon,  with 
netting  over  the  blossom  end;  not  a  long  melon,  but  rather  inclined  to 
be  short,  but  it  had  the  qualities.  By  selection  I  reduced  the  size  of 
my  cantaloupes  down  till  the  last  two  years  that  I  grew  them  they 
averaged  well  to  crate  nicely.  I  often  thought  of  changing  my  stock 
of  seed,  but  after  going  through  the  season,  having  very  little  trouble 
with  culls  or  inferior  melons  and  the  quality  seeming  to  me  superior 
in  comparison  with  anything  I  could  get  hold  of,  I  stayed  with  it.  I 
could  easily  see  that  they  had  peculiarities  of  their  own  compared  with 
other  cantaloupes. 

Now  if  the  using  of  my  name  in  this  connection  meets  with  your  ap- 
proval, it  is  certainly  satisfatcory  to  me,  and  I  will  feel  honored.  Wishing 
you  success  in  the  work  and  asking  for  a  copy  of  your  Bulletin,  I  am, 

Yours  truly, 

J.  P.  POLLOCK. 

This  bit  of  history  reveals  why  this  strain  of  seed  shows  resistant 
tendency;  it  has  a  line  of  selection  to  that  end,  though  unintentional  at 
the  time.  There  is  an  old  law  in  nature  called  the  "Survival  of  the  fittest," 
it  applies  to  plants  as  well  as  animals;  it  simply  means  that  in  nature, 
individuals  that  are  able  to  grow  and  develop  in  the  midst  of  adverse  con- 
ditions are  thus  naturally  selected  to  resist  these  conditions. 

Mr.  Pollock  has  since  informed  the  writer  that  the  large  cantaloupe 
referred  to  in  his  letter  was  a  salmon  colored  fleshed  one,  and  the  well 
netted  one  was  the  regular  green  fleshed  type  of  the  Gem  strain.  As  the 
Pollock  strain  has  always  shown  a  mixture  of  both  green  and  salmon  type 
of  flesh,  it  seems  reasonable  to  suppose  that  this  strain  was  the  direct  result 
of  cross  fertilization  between  the  two  strains  Mr.  Pollock  had,  and  may 
also  account  for  the  resistant  tendency  of  this  one  strain,  while  all  other 
strains  tested  revealed  no  resistant  tendency  whatever. 

24 


CANTALOUPE     CULTUHE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE     SEED. 


CANTALOUPE 


Plate  No.  14 — Blinn's  Rust-Resistant  Pollock. 

Plate  No.  14,  is  characteristic  of  the  Pollock  cantaloupe  well  netted, 
entirely  covering  the  whole  surface,  it  has  a  small  seed  cavity  as  a  rule, 
and  is  one  of  the  best  of  shippers,  the  many  desirable  qualities  of  the  Pol- 
lock strain,  naturally  brought  it  into  popular  favor,  and  it  has  been  renamed 
by  several  parties,  "The  Rust-resistant,"  the  "Eden  Gem,"  "Netted  Rock", 
and  "Ironclad"  are  some  of  the  names  it  is  sold  under.  This  cantaloupe 
is  inclined  to  run  to  standard  and  "jumbo"  sizes  rather  than  to  "pony." 
The  quality  of  the  flesh  is  exceptionally  fine  grain,  sweet  and  spicy.  There 
are  both  green  and  salmon  colored  flesh  found  in  the  usual  strain  of  Pol- 
lock, but  the  strain  developed  by  the  Experiment  Station  was  selected  for 
the  green  colored  flesh  as  at  one  time  it  was  thought  to  be  superior  to  the 
salmon  colored  flesh,  but  recently  it  has  been  found  to  be  an  individual 
plant  trait,  and  some  of  the  finest  flavor  is  found  in  the  salmon  fleshed. 
The  Rocky  Ford  Cantaloupe  Breeders'  Association  has  isolated  one  of  the 
salmon  fleshed  Pollock,  known  as  Pollock  No.  25,  which  is  shown  on  the 
cover  of  this  work.  It  is  hard  to  conceive  a  more  attractive  type  of  canta- 
loupe. The  colors  in  this  colored  plate  are  true  to  this  strain,  and  this 
particular  strain  has  shown  the  highest  points  of  all  desirable  qualities. 
The  Pollock  strains  are  inclined  to  make  a  rather  slow  growth  at  first,  but 
eventually  grow  a  very  heavy  vine,  but  are  about  a  week  later  than  some 
other  strains  but  the  disease  resistance  of  the  plant  has  made  it  the  most 
desirable  variety  to  grow  where  there  is  danger  of  the  fungus  troubles  in 
rainy  sections. 

25 


CANTALOUPE     CULTURE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE      SEED. 


Plate  No.  15— The  Ryan's  Early  Watters. 

Aside  from  the  Pollock  strain,  there  is  another  strain  of  the  solid 
netted  type,  that  is  extensively  grown  on  account  of  its  very  early  ma- 
turity, this  known  as  Ryan's  Early  Watters;  in  its  general  appearance 
it  is  almost  identical  with  the  Pollock,  a  typical  specimen  being  shown 
in  Plate  No.  15.  This  strain  has  made  the  best  record  for  money  returns 
on  account  of  its  early  maturity.  It  germinates  a  very  vigorous  plant 
that  sets  fruit  early,  and  seems  to  mature  its  crop  in  a  short  period  of 
harvest,  often  only  covering  ten  to  fourteen  days  of  harvest  period.  The 
large  yield  of  early  cantaloupes  when  prices  average  high,  is  the  strong 
point  in  favor  of  this  strain.  It  begins  to  ripen  about  August  first  at  Rocky 
Ford,  while  the  Pollock  is  almost  ten  days  later.  The  color  of  its  flesh 
is  green  shading  to  yellow  at  the  seed  cavity,  flavor  much  the  same  as  the 
Pollock  it  is  little  more  inclined  to  the  open  seed  cavity,  and  will  usually 
succumb  to  the  Melon  "rust,"  which  makes  this  strain  or  variety  better 
suited  to  the  regions  where  this  trouble  is  not  a  serious  drawback.  These 
two  above  mentioned  strains  constitute  the  principal  varieties  grown  in 
the  Rocky  Ford  vicinity,  with  one  exception,  a  melon  of  the  Osage  type. 
This  cantaloupe  originally  came  out  under  the  name  "Defender"  from  the 
United  States  Department  seed  distribution.  This  has  been  renamed,  "Bur- 
rell's  Gem",  "Osage  Gem,"  and  "Pink  Meat." 

This  cantaloupe  has  been  grown  in  different  states,  but  its  tendency  to 
crack  open  when  nearly  ripe  has  been  objectionable  to  it.  Under  Colorado 
conditions  it  has  made  quite  a  reputation.  The  flesh  is  deep  salmon  color 
with  a  very  small  seed  cavity,  it  has  exceptional  fine  keeping  quality,  it 

26 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE  SEED. 

has  a  very  solid  flesh  when  first  ripe  which  requires  several  days  to  mellow 
up.  It  has  a  decided  flavor  distinct  from  the  Gems. 

It  is  a  late  maturing  strain,  and  is  quite  subject  to  the  "rust"  and 
the  tendency  to  crack  are  the  principal  drawbacks  to  the  strain. 

Over  a  hundred  varieties  of  cantaloupes  and  muskmelons  have  been 
tried  in  the  tests  on  the  Experiment  Station  at  Rocky  Ford  including  many 
of  the  foreign  introductions  and  not  any  have  shown  a  superior  trait  to 
those  above  mentioned. 

There  are  several  artificial  crosses  that  have  been  made,  between  the 
Pollock  and  the  Early  Watters  with  a  view  to  combining  the  disease  resist- 
ance and  early  production  of  the  two,  one  of  these  crosses  made  by  the 
Rocky  Ford  Cantaloupe  Breeders'  Association,  known  as  Early-Rust-Re- 
sistant No.  2,  is  a  very  promising  hybrid,  for  two  years  it  has  shown  as 
early  maturity  as  the  Watters  strain  and  as  disease  resistance  as  the  Pol- 
lock. The  melon  is  very  much  a  combination  of  the  two  strains,  except  it  is 
green  fleshed  like  the  Watters. 

There  is  also  several  crosses  of  the  Osage  type  with  the  Pollock  and 
Ryan's  Early  Strain,  these  have  not  been  grown  long  enough  to  determine 
the  results. 

To  those  who  may  be  interested  in  making  cantaloupe  hybrids  we 
reprint  the  methods  of  artificial  fertilization  from  Colorado  Experiment 
Station  Bulletin  No.  126,  Cantaloupe  Breeding. 


Colo.  Exp.  Sta. 

Plate  16— Contrasts  in  Internal  Qualities.     Selections  from  Different  Individual 

Plants. 

27 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE   SEED. 


Plate  No.  17— Artificial  Cross-Fertilization. 

1— Bud  24  Hours  Before  Opening.  2— Bud  Emasculated.  3— Bloom  Just 
Opened.  4 — Calyx  and  Corolla  Removed,  Showing-  3  Anthers  Attached. 
5— Set  Developing.  Colo.  Exp.  Sta. 

The  Rocky  Ford  cantaloupe  is  quite  the  exception  to  most  of  the 
cucurbitaceous  plants  like  the  cucumber  and  many  other  varieties  of 
melons,  which  have  their  stamens  and  pistils  borne  in  separate  flowers, 
while  the  Rocky  Ford  variety  is  hermaphroditic,  that  is  the  stamens  and 
pistil  are  produced  in  one  flower.  It  also  has  purely  staminate  flowers 
produced  in  great  profusion  at  the  intersection  of  nearly  every  branch. 

It  is  evident  that  cross-fertilization  is  readily  possible,  yet  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  flower  and  the  results  of  observation  would  indicate  that  self- 
pollenization  is  quite  as  common  or  more  so. 

The  pollen  of  the  cantaloupe  flower  has  been  found  to  ripen  about  the 
time  the  flower  is  opened  and  the  pollen  is  usually  shed  at  this  time,  which 
is  usually  early  in  the  morning;  to  fertilize  the  flower  and  have  the  results 
of  known  origin,  it  is  necessary  to  find  the  bud  about  twenty-four  hours 
before  it  opens  (Plate  17,  No.  I),  which  can  easily  be  told  by  observation; 
in  this  stage  it  should  be  emasculated,  before  the  pollen  lobes  are  ripe. 
By  cutting  around  the  base  of  the  corolla  and  calyx,  the  two  may  be  re- 
moved with  the  stamens  attached,  leaving  the  pistil  free  and  exposed. 
(Plate  17,  No.  II  and  IV.)  A  small  paper  sack  is  then  tied  over  the  stem 
to  protect  the  pistil  from  foreign  pollen  until  the  following  morning,  when 
the  stigma  will  be  at  about  the  same  stage,  as  if  the  flower  had  not  been 
disturbed,  and  ready  to  receive  the  pollen. 

The  desired  pollen  is  introduced  from  a  fresh  opened  flower,  by 
pulling  off  the  corolla  the  stamens  are  exposed,  showing  the  ripe  pollen 
grains  which  are  transferred  by  touching  the  ripe  pollen  lobes  to  the  pistil 
or  stigma  until  it  is  well  covered  with  the  yellow  pollen  grains.  The  paper 
sack  is  then  replaced  for  several  days  until  development  begins. 

28 


^OFFICERS   OF, 


The  Rocky  Ford  Cantaloupe 
Seed  Breeders'  Association 

ROCKY   FORD,   COLORADO 


INCORPORATED     1909 


PHILO  K.  BLINN        .  President 

JAMES  B.  RYAN     .         .         .  Secretary 

CLEM  V.  RYAN  Treasurer 


CANTALOUPE     CULTURE     AND     PEDIGREED     CANTALOUPE     SEED. 


An  Ideal  Seed  Cavity. 

Cantaloupe  Seed  a  Specialty 

ARE  YOU  INTERESTED  IN  HIGH-GRADE  SEED?  If  you  are,  THE 
ROCKY  FORD  CANTALOUPE  SEED  BREEDERS'  ASSOCIATION  can  fur- 
nish you  with  the  best  Rocky  Ford  cantaloupe  seed,  that  experience  and 
systematic  efforts  have  been  able  to  produce. 

The  need  of  this  organization  was  suggested  by  the  many  letters  of 
inquiry  for  a  reliable  source  of  cantaloupe  seed,  that  have  continually 
been  coming  to  the  Colorado  Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 

This  Association  has  no  official  relation  with  that  institution,  except 
that  Mr.  P.  K.  Blinn,  Field  Agent,  and  for  many  years  the  Cantaloupe 
Specialist  was  instrumental  in  forming  this  association.  It  was  the  results 
of  the  work  on  the  Experiment  Station  in  breeding  the  Rust-Resistant  can- 
taloupe on  the  basis  of  individual  plant  variation,  that  forms  the  founda- 
tion of  the  system  of  seed  selection  that  is  behind  all  the  seed  sold  by  this 
Association;  which  is  ENTIRELY  PRODUCED  BY  THE  FEW  MEN  WHO 
WERE  SELECTED  BY  REASON  OF  THEIR  EXPERIENCE  AND  ABILITY 
AS  SEED  GROWERS  TO  FORM  THE  ASSOCIATION.  The  membership 
is  restricted,  and  the  organization  is  NOT  a  seed  jobbing  concern. 

The  plan  is  to  develop  and  produce  pedigreed  cantaloupe  seed  and  to 
sell  only  such. 

SATISFIED  CUSTOMERS  ARE  STOCK-IN-TRADE  in  the  seed  busi- 
ness, and  high  grade  seed,  and  the  results  they  produce  will  secure  them. 

The  Association  furnishes  a  certificate  with  all  their  seed  which  identi- 
fies its  source,  and  the  breeding  and  selection  behind  the  seed  insures  the 
results. 

31 


CANTALOUPE  CULTURE  AND  PEDIGREED  CANTALOUPE  SEED. 


Seed  Certificate 

OF 
The  Rocky  Ford  Cantaloupe  Seed  Breeders'  Association 

Rocky  Ford,  Colorado 

Cantaloupe  Seed  accompanied  by  this  Certificate,  signed  and  sealed, 
with  the  package  unbroken,  is  guaranteed  to  have  been  produced  by  this 
Association,  in  accordance  with-  the  most  approved  method  of  seed  breed- 
ing. SEED  FROM  THIS  ASSOCIATION  IS  SOLD  ONLY  WITH  THIS 
CERTIFICATE,  AND  EACH  SACK  OF  SEED  IS  SEALED  WITH  A 
LEAD  CAR  SEAL,  (except  when  sent  in  the  mail.)  The  purchaser  is  here- 
by assured  of  first  grade  selection,  of  a  pure  strain  of  cantaloupe  seed  of  the 
Variety.  No 

This  stock  of  seed  has  had  at  least  two  years  of  tests,  for  heredity. 
It  was  grown  from  registered  stock  seed,  and  selected  from  a  field  grown 
exclusively  for  seed;  the  requirements  for  this  selection  were  standard  size, 
solid  netting,  prime  texture  and  flavor,  with  no  defects  that  could  injure 
the  seed  or  the  crop  to  be  grown  from  it.  The  germination  of  this  seed  is 
as  good  as  experience  and  good  equipment  can  produce. 

In   testimony   whereof,    the    Seal   of   the  Association    and    the   signature 

of  its  officers  are  affixed,  this 19 

President. 

Secretary. 


PRICE  QUOTATIONS  AND  INFORMATION 

The  Association  is  making  a  specialty  of  two  general  types  of  Rocky 
Ford  Cantaloupes.  An  early  maturing  strain  and  the  Disease-resistant 
strain.  They  offer  the  following  strains,  and  retail  prices,  prepaid,  to  any 
part  of  the  United  States. 

Rust-Resistant  Pollock,  green  fleshed $1.50  per  lb.,   15  oz. 

For  cut,  see  Plate  No.   14. 

Rust-Resistant  Pollock,  salmon  fleshed $1.50  per  lb.,  15  oz. 

For  cut,  see  outside  cover  colored  plate. 

Ryan's  Early  Watters,  green  fleshed $1.50  per  lb.,  15  oz. 

For  cut,  see  Plate  No.  15. 

Early-Rust-Resistant,  Hybrid  No.  2 $2.00  per  lb.,  20c  oz. 

A  limited  amount  of  select  watermelon  seed: 
Kleckley  Sweet    $1.00  per  lb.,   lOc  oz. 

Dealers  or  Melon  Growers'  Associations  desiring  to  purchase  at  whole- 
sale, will  please  write  for  quotation  stating  the  amount  they  desire. 

In  ordering,  please  remember  remittance  must  accompany  order,  unless 
arrangements  have  been  made  otherwise. 

We  will  book  orders  and  hold  for  shipment,  or  will  forward  by  Express 
C.  O.  D.  where  10  per  cent  of  money  is  sent  with  the  order. 

We  will  not  attempt  to  meet  prices  of  other  concerns,  the  price  we 
ask  is  reasonable,  with  the  quality  we  furnish.  Those  desiring  "grade" 
seed  at  lower  prices,  had  best  look  elsewhere  for  their  seed. 

Owing  to  the  existence  of  several  cantaloupe  growers  associations 
being  organized  here  at  Rocky  Ford,  mail  intended  for  the  Cantaloupe 
Seed  Breeders'  Association  should  be  addressed  to  James  B.  Ryan,  Secre- 
tary, Rocky  Ford,  R.  F.  D.  No.  3,  Colorado,  to  avoid  delays. 

32 


NIVERSITY 


KANKLIN  PRESS  CO. 


